The Iron Water

September 5, 2016
At the outset of British author Nickson’s gritty fourth whodunit set in late 19th-century Leeds (after 2015’s Skin like Silver), the trial run of an experimental torpedo in Waterloo Lake cuts the rope tying the corpse of a man to a weight, causing the body, later identified as that of small-time crook Leonard Tench, to rise to the lake’s surface. Soon afterward, a severed woman’s leg turns up in the River Aire. Is there a link between the two victims? Det. Insp. Tom Harper learns that Tench was connected with a local gang leader, and looks to the criminal underworld for a motive for Tench’s killing. Mindful of the city’s reputation, Leeds officials put pressure on Harper to solve both puzzles quickly. Fans of Anne Perry’s Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series should enjoy the significant role in the case played by Harper’s able wife, Annabelle, although Nickson has done a better job with plotting and characterization in his Crooked Spire and Richard Nottingham series. Agent: Tina Betts, Andrew Mann Agency (U.K.).

November 1, 2016

In 1893 Leeds, England, DI Tom Harper is representing the police at a demonstration of a powerful new naval weapon, the torpedo, when the resulting explosion in the lake brings up a body; meanwhile, river dredging uncovers a woman's leg. Are the two corpses connected, and who is killing the petty criminals of Leeds? This fourth installment follows Skin Like Silver.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2016
Set in 1893 in Leeds, England, this historical procedural brings back DI Tom Harper in another baffling case. This one begins at the demonstration of a naval torpedo on the lake in Roundhay Park. When the torpedo goes off, there's an unexpected result: a body surfaces from the depths of the lake. Shortly afterward, a woman's leg is found in the canal, with no body attached. When two more bodies are found, Harper is worried there may be a serial killer on the loose. But then he discovers that there could be a link to the city's two most notorious criminal gangs and, worse, that another, even-more-powerful gang may be moving into Leeds in a takeover bid. Dead ends proliferate, and even when Tom's superintendent is convinced the case has been cracked, Tom is still unsure. Outstanding period detail, complex characters, a twisty plot, plenty of surprises, and a likable protagonist make for an engaging and intriguing read. Recommend this one to fans of Anne Perry's Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)